Collaborating Artist’s Catalog

Mr. Melku’s oeuvre is immediately recognizable by his consistent use of the Ethiopian banner colors—green, yellow, and red—which serve as symbols of African spirituality, love, and enduring cultural traditions.

Artist Statement: For Mr. Melku, the act of painting constitutes an intrinsic form of self-expression that transcends verbal communication. His creative practice is concerned with the harmonic resonance between artistic message and audience perception. By emphasizing themes germane to the African diaspora and the spiritual dimensions of Rastafari culture, his work seeks to portray Black identity as a continuum—both ancient and dynamically evolving—celebrated through a vibrant visual lexicon.

Her films capture community members and herself performing while adorned with hair sculptures for meaningful transformative movement rituals. The concepts embodied in her work are social justice themes centered around the black experience in America; utilizing both history and Afro-futurism simultaneously balanced within. She considers her work to be a part of a broader black liberation strategy employing black joy and serious play. Her work has been exhibited at various noteworthy institutions including the Delaware Contemporary Museum and the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco, CA., and internationally (throughout Canada,  Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, England, Liberia (West Africa), and India).  B. A. in Art and Design from Towson University and an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art. She has been a teaching artist for the last twenty years and currently is an art teacher for a Title 1 school in Baltimore, MD. Guest Lecturer for colleges, including Maryland Institute College of Art, Johns Hopkins, and Loyola University Maryland.

This familial influence sparked his admiration for artwork, and he often found himself drawn to the art museums at the Smithsonian, running down to the national mall to explore the masterpieces on display. However, it wasn’t until three years ago, when his beloved grandmother passed away, that Miles made a profound decision.

He resolved to pursue art as a way to honor her lasting legacy. Since then, he has devoted himself to crafting meaningful narratives through his creations. Some of his works delve into historical accounts, akin to the painting he made for an auction. On the other hand, he also embarks on abstract journeys, delving into intimate thoughts and emotions that he skillfully weaves into his art wall compositions. Miles’ ultimate aspiration is to leave a lasting impact on those who experience his art. He seeks to gift viewers with compelling stories that resonate with them, allowing them to walk away from his artwork with a tale worth sharing and cherishing.

His early forays into diverse media provided a solid foundation for his creative endeavors; however, it was his critical exposure to military and corporate power structures that refined his artistic sensibilities. As a young African American operating in environments traditionally dominated by senior white leadership, Mr. JustRo gained a profound understanding of systemic inequities and implicit bias. These experiences have emboldened his commitment to deconstructing power structures and amplifying marginalized voices. Over the years, his practice has evolved from a focus on portraiture to the creation of large-scale works, immersive installations, and innovative three-dimensional forms. A period of extensive travel in West Africa (2021–2023) further enriched his practice by deepening his appreciation for traditional textile techniques and the cultural narratives they embody. This phase culminated in the development of his signature “Visual Aphorisms,” mixed-media sculptures that integrate text as a dimensional element by employing techniques informed by his background in aerospace engineering.

Artist Statement: A Visual Aphorism derives its potency through the deliberate integration of the abstract symbolism inherent in traditional textiles with the explicit semantic content of proverbs. In his work, the textile is not merely a background element; its colors, motifs, and cultural heritage convey layers of ancestral wisdom. Concurrently, the incorporation of text into the physical form of the artwork transforms it from a mere caption to an essential component of the visual narrative. This synthesis, reminiscent of strategies employed by artists such as Jasper Johns, challenges conventional distinctions between symbol and literal object, engendering a multi-layered dialogue that invites critical reflection on power and equity.